More Spreads for when you just...can't...even!
After coming up with my own spread for when, I Just Can't Even, I decided to Google, “I Can’t Even Spreads” Voila! I found another one. This 2017 blog from, witch, life coach and reader, Jessi Huntenburg, has a nice five card spread. Huntenburg uses The Wild Unknown Tarot (My lust for this gorgeous deck / book set still burns unrequited) and has 5 straight forward placements:
After finding it, I tried this spread to see how I like it. I used my same deck which was well shuffled. This time I got no major arcana cards, which again tells me that there is much potential for change here. There were three court cards. All of the cards popped up reversed, except the very last one, so I flipped them around to get a whole picture view. All the cards but one were Koshes (Staves) so the issue has a lot to do with physical energy or lack thereof.
*Interpretations are in grey text if you would like to skip ahead. There's a link at the end to Jessi's post.
- What’s tripping me up?
- How do I effectively address this obstacle?
- Do I need to double down or take a time out?
- A “pat on the back.”
- A well deserved reward.
After finding it, I tried this spread to see how I like it. I used my same deck which was well shuffled. This time I got no major arcana cards, which again tells me that there is much potential for change here. There were three court cards. All of the cards popped up reversed, except the very last one, so I flipped them around to get a whole picture view. All the cards but one were Koshes (Staves) so the issue has a lot to do with physical energy or lack thereof.
*Interpretations are in grey text if you would like to skip ahead. There's a link at the end to Jessi's post.
- What’s tripping me up? Knight of Koshes Reversed. The Knight of Wands is full of bravado, passion and raw physical energy. In this case, the reversal may make a good deal of sense. I have been lucky enough to eat a better diet the past few weeks which has given my brain more energy to apply to creative projects. I want to do ALL the things, but I’m being tripped up by a lot of little irritating obstacles, which is really frustrating!
- How do I effectively address this? The King of Koros (Cups) Reversed. I can read this on a few levels, especially since this card was reversed. On one hand, being a creative, intuitive and an emotional grown up has helped me get through this recent crisis without histrionics or the kind of panic I have had in the past. The shadow side is that I have become very depressed and for a while, almost completely paralyzed, by all that was happening. Not being able to do much about it, I slipped into hopelessness. I need to keep reminding myself that these things pass! The other interesting thing is that I have a Pisces friend who is very much a King of Cups. He has been so kind and thoughtful many times. He has literally bailed me out more than once and won’t let me pay him back. (Oh, I will though. Somehow. Someday.)
- Do I need to double down or take a time out? Ace of Koshes (Wands) Reversed. The Ace of Wands contains a lot of raw energy and potential. In my deck the wands are whips and a man’s hand is extended from the cover of a vardo. You can’t see the horses from this angle which would tell you if he is coming, driving them forward toward a large estate, or if he is waving the whip from the back of the wagon, as it drives him away. I know that the creative things I want to pursue are viable and worth it, but I’m overwhelmed and not quite sure how to proceed. This all fits the reversal model. All the immediate crisis stuff has been a huge distraction and obstacle, but at the same time, I have been able to start producing some things on more of a schedule and I’m determined to follow through. Follow through is difficult for me due to things like illness, financial difficulties and frequent internet access issues. I think the answer is, go ahead and step back a bit to deal with these circumstances, but the cards are also saying, don’t quit! Keep at it.
- A “pat on the back.” Page of Koshes (Wands) Reversed. Ok. This is kind of hilarious since my page is a plate spinner who is taking a break after a long grueling session. He is pressing the balancing pole against his back as if to stretch and massage the aching muscles. So, he’s sort of patting himself on the back. *snorts* Beside him rests a symbol of illumination; a lantern. The reversal on this card leaves it with a very similar meaning to the card before. Great creative idea. Lots of things complicating the urge to just run with it. I have literally just had an imposed break from work which was horrible, but the time also allowed me to play with some of the ideas I have been having and put some smart creative habits in place. Work is about to pick up again. I just need to look at this from a new angle. I’m on the right track overall, I think. Gotta keep up that self care!
- A well deserved reward. Finally, I get an upright card, Nine of Koshes (Wands) My nine of wands is a craftsman. He is trimming sticks to be used as other things, perhaps whips, as he has a spool of what might be leather cord next to him. He looks outward, his back facing the vardo. A cup of tea waits behind him. This is very different than the wounded man surrounded by staves we are used to seeing in most decks who is gearing up to face another fight. My guy is focused and at the ready, making tools. It looks like he is expecting someone. He tells me that he knows it has been hard but that the card after him will be the ten, completion. It’s worth it to do my best to set aside my fears and exhaustion so I can stick it out. It will be worth it.
I did enjoy this layout very much and though it was very different than the reading with my layout, I think that was because it focused on a very different part of why I just can’t even. The first reading cracked open my head a bit to point out a lot of psychological things tripping me up. This one really focused on how that was impacting what I want to be doing and told me that my desires are worthy and good ideas to pursue.
I had not heard of Huntenberg before, but I did a little poking around on her site and blog. It looks like she has some great thoughts on tarot and there’s nice content there. Worth a look.
I had not heard of Huntenberg before, but I did a little poking around on her site and blog. It looks like she has some great thoughts on tarot and there’s nice content there. Worth a look.
The most excellent, "WTF?" spread
Finally, I thought I would share one of my favorite spreads from Evvie Marin whose Interrobang Tarot is a fantastic blog that I do not read often enough. It is called, the What The Fuck? Spread.
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There are 6 cards in this one.
Overview of the reading: I have two Bolers (wheels aka pentacles) and just one card from each of the other suits. Only one major arcana. She comes up in a pretty strong position in the reading. But this tells me that I do have some work to do. It kind of confirms I am on the right track about some things, even though I’m not sure how I will accomplish them. It also tells me that material concerns / finances are really at issue here. I only have one court card and I don’t have a lot of repeating numbers. The Star, number seventeen reduced to 8, however, gives me a bit of "eight weight." 8 and 17 are special numbers for me. And eights usually point toward being on the verge of completion. It feels like all these readings are telling me, stick it out, something good is just around the corner. Keep working!
1 & 2 WHAT THE: (Center Cross) The face of my current challenge. The crux of what hounds me. I got the seven of Bolers and the 8 of Koshes, both very fitting. The first card reminds me that I have isolated myself from much of the rest of the world, but that’s ok. I’m sifting through things to see what will be useful and what I can build on. I’m working toward ways to make money, but I’ve been unable to bring anything to fruition yet. This describes the past couple of months well.
At the same time, I’ve been holed up in my tent, my blanket fort, per se. But I have left out the bones for another person to come and build a tent alongside mine. I think there is a lot of wistful feeling here. My take on these is that I am very close to a breakthrough after so much frustration, hard work and attempts to plan. I’m making room for changes. I’m not ready to join the world just yet, but I’m making room for company. The Eight of Wands here is very different than the traditional wands or arrows flying through the air. Another way to look at it is to question whether the ribs of the tent are there for someone else to drape their fabric over to camp or is that my tent that I’ve stripped down because I want to go now?
3. ACTUAL: What is real about this situation? Ten of Bolers. I have an amazing chosen family who have shown me that I am loved and valued and I can count on them to circle the wagons and make sure I am safe when needed.
4. FUCK: What is wrong about this situation? The Page of Chivs (Knives) Lots of excitement, lots of passion, but also lots of difficulty following through. Some of this is from outside circumstances, some is physical, but some of this is also me. I feel this may represent some of the communication difficulty I have with my roommate as well.
5. ?: Where do I need more information? Where do I need to ask, research, and listen? The Star. Welp. Time for some more introspection. Also time to focus on my spiritual path again.
6. !: What can I do? What first steps can I take in action? And here, suddenly, is the three of Bolers which was in the first reading in the lessons section. I think once again the message is don’t try to do every little thing myself, even if I think it’s all my responsibility or that I’m the only one who can solve the problem. Ask for help. Don’t leave people standing around gawking. Do things in collaboration whenever possible.
- WHAT THE (Center Cross) The face of my current challenge.
- WHAT THE The face of my current challenge.
- ACTUAL What is real about this situation?
- FUCK What is wrong about this situation?
- ? Where do I need more information?
- ! : What can I do?
Overview of the reading: I have two Bolers (wheels aka pentacles) and just one card from each of the other suits. Only one major arcana. She comes up in a pretty strong position in the reading. But this tells me that I do have some work to do. It kind of confirms I am on the right track about some things, even though I’m not sure how I will accomplish them. It also tells me that material concerns / finances are really at issue here. I only have one court card and I don’t have a lot of repeating numbers. The Star, number seventeen reduced to 8, however, gives me a bit of "eight weight." 8 and 17 are special numbers for me. And eights usually point toward being on the verge of completion. It feels like all these readings are telling me, stick it out, something good is just around the corner. Keep working!
1 & 2 WHAT THE: (Center Cross) The face of my current challenge. The crux of what hounds me. I got the seven of Bolers and the 8 of Koshes, both very fitting. The first card reminds me that I have isolated myself from much of the rest of the world, but that’s ok. I’m sifting through things to see what will be useful and what I can build on. I’m working toward ways to make money, but I’ve been unable to bring anything to fruition yet. This describes the past couple of months well.
At the same time, I’ve been holed up in my tent, my blanket fort, per se. But I have left out the bones for another person to come and build a tent alongside mine. I think there is a lot of wistful feeling here. My take on these is that I am very close to a breakthrough after so much frustration, hard work and attempts to plan. I’m making room for changes. I’m not ready to join the world just yet, but I’m making room for company. The Eight of Wands here is very different than the traditional wands or arrows flying through the air. Another way to look at it is to question whether the ribs of the tent are there for someone else to drape their fabric over to camp or is that my tent that I’ve stripped down because I want to go now?
3. ACTUAL: What is real about this situation? Ten of Bolers. I have an amazing chosen family who have shown me that I am loved and valued and I can count on them to circle the wagons and make sure I am safe when needed.
4. FUCK: What is wrong about this situation? The Page of Chivs (Knives) Lots of excitement, lots of passion, but also lots of difficulty following through. Some of this is from outside circumstances, some is physical, but some of this is also me. I feel this may represent some of the communication difficulty I have with my roommate as well.
5. ?: Where do I need more information? Where do I need to ask, research, and listen? The Star. Welp. Time for some more introspection. Also time to focus on my spiritual path again.
6. !: What can I do? What first steps can I take in action? And here, suddenly, is the three of Bolers which was in the first reading in the lessons section. I think once again the message is don’t try to do every little thing myself, even if I think it’s all my responsibility or that I’m the only one who can solve the problem. Ask for help. Don’t leave people standing around gawking. Do things in collaboration whenever possible.
Overall, it was really interesting to apply three similar spreads to the same situation. They all revealed a different layer for analysis. Looking back after a few weeks I imagine I will have several, Aha, moments. I hope this was enlightening for you as well. If you try any of the spreads, let me know how they worked for you!
